Design and Technology

“Tell me and I forget – show me and I may remember – let me do it, and I learn – learning through making works!” Prue Leith, Leith’s School of Food and Wine

“D&T is a perfect example of head and hands working together. Having to think about purposes and users for their products is much more demanding than simply following instructions to make something. Children have to think and plan, as well as do and create. This can be challenging but extremely satisfying - as well as great fun!” The Design and Technology Association – www.dandtprimary.org.uk

Intent

At Crawley Ridge Infant school we believe that Design and Technology is an important part of the curriculum as it offers pupils opportunities to think imaginatively and become creative problem solvers. It develops many important skills from across the curriculum, and can bring learning to life. Pupils learn to design and make products safely. We value not just an end product but that the whole process empowers children to make informed choices and decisions and take risks as they develop their ideas.

We aim for pupils to continually develop an understanding and knowledge of materials and components which could be used to plan a task and they are encouraged to try to approach a task systematically (think, plan, make, evaluate and build knowledge). They are taught how to use tools safely and with a good level of accuracy and develop collaborative and problem solving skills.

The National Curriculum for KS1 states that pupils should be taught to:

Design

• design purposeful, functional, appealing products for themselves and other users based on design criteria
• generate, develop, model and communicate their ideas through talking, drawing, templates, mock-ups and, where appropriate, information and communication technology

Make

• select from and use a range of tools and equipment to perform practical tasks [for example, cutting, shaping, joining and finishing]
• select from and use a wide range of materials and components, including construction materials, textiles and ingredients, according to their characteristics

Evaluate

• explore and evaluate a range of existing products
• evaluate their ideas and products against design criteria

Technical Knowledge

• build structures, exploring how they can be made stronger, stiffer and more stable
• explore and use mechanisms [for example, levers, sliders, wheels and axles], in their products.

Implementation

Please find attached to the bottom of this webpage a progression grid outlining how Design and Technology is implemented throughout our school.

Impact

By the time pupils leave our school we aim for the children to have developed a curiosity as to how things work in order to acquire knowledge of moving parts and how to apply this knowledge along with creative thinking to solve problems. The children enjoy experimenting with ideas, take risks and have confidence in asking questions. They will be able to make clear plans using labelled diagrams and communicate their ideas clearly with others using appropriate vocabulary about how they will produce their end product.